Overview
The Sentiero Attrezzato dell'Infernone offers a strikingly atmospheric experience, unfolding deep within the rugged gorge carved by the Elvo Torrent near Sordevolo in the province of Biella. While it presents no overly demanding technical challenges, the route is defined by its powerful environmental impact, offering continuous views of the narrow canyon and the watercourse below. The trail alternates between equipped sections with cables and stirrups and simpler passages, punctuated by three suspended Tibetan bridges that heighten the sense of exposure and adventure. The itinerary runs mostly traversing the gorge walls, blending horizontal progression along ledges with short vertical ups and downs in an ever-dynamic and spectacular setting.
Approach
The starting point is the town of Sordevolo in the Biella area. Park along via Bagneri and descend following the paved road, taking the first hairpin turn to the left. The route is well-marked with signage and an information board. At the next fork, keep left, following the CAI markers for the Ferrata dell'Infernone. Continue until the pavement ends, then take a descending dirt road. Ignore a deviation toward a farmhouse and keep descending until you reach the start of the equipped trail. The approach takes about 20 minutes from the parking area.
Via Ferrata
The final stretch of the approach is protected by a fixed rope, useful due to the frequent dampness that makes the ground slippery. Turning right, the Sentiero Attrezzato dell'Infernone officially begins. The route initially follows a diagonal ramp climbing along the wall, then traverses a ledge that passes beneath an ancient stone bridge for Bagneri. After this first historical feature, the trail becomes more comfortable and runs alongside the Elvo Torrent, offering the first broad views of the gorge. The protections are intermittent: steel cables or ropes appear mainly on short, slightly exposed sections, sometimes aided by artificial holds. The pace is pleasantly varied, with progression alternating between horizontal stretches on solid rock and short vertical steps, maintaining a moderate but constant exposure.
After a series of equipped ups and downs, you tackle a more pronounced descent on a rope (not a steel cable) that gradually brings you closer to the torrent bed. You then proceed over comfortable rocks, still traversing leftward, until reaching a short vertical wall equipped with metal stirrups. A protected trail section leads to the first Tibetan bridge, a three-rope crossing that transfers the route to the right orographic bank of the torrent. This bridge introduces an initial moment of airy exposure, suspended above the watercourse flowing through a narrow rock incision.
After the bridge, a descent leads to a stone bridge that allows you to cross back over the torrent, returning to the left orographic bank. Continue at water level over unequipped rocks, ignoring a yellow-marked deviation that descends toward a waterfall. You then arrive at a slightly suspended horizontal traverse near a beautiful waterfall. Climbing a short section brings you to the second suspended bridge, which leads back to the right orographic bank. The route here becomes more airy, developing along ledges and traverses that require careful progression.
From here, turn right for an airy traverse, aided by metal stirrups for the feet, which runs directly above the torrent where the gorge narrows. You then reach a often damp ledge that, with continuous ups and downs, allows you to ascend along the gorge wall. A subsequent vertical descent section brings you back toward the riverbed, then up a diagonal ramp that introduces a striking small canyon. Here the environment becomes more enclosed and spectacular: the route continues horizontally, with feet on stirrups sheer above the water. After rounding a corner, you continue the traverse in an increasingly impressive setting, until overcoming a rocky roof that requires a slight descent. The progression is technical but fluid, with a rhythm sustained by constant changes in direction and elevation.
The long traverse culminates in a passage where you advance with your feet on a rope, arriving near the third and final suspended bridge, the shortest of the series. Crossing it returns you to the left orographic bank and, after the final meters of cable, the Sentiero Attrezzato dell'Infernone ends. The via ferrata takes about 2 hours from the start, for a total of 2 hours and 20 minutes from departure. The itinerary is characterized by continuous, never-monotonous progression, combining technical elements, moderate exposure, and constant immersion in a wild and spectacular environment.
Descent
From the end of the equipped trail, ascend the slope until you intercept a mule track. Following it downhill returns you to Sordevolo, retracing via Bagneri to the car park. This return section takes about 40 minutes, bringing the total hike duration to approximately 3 hours.
Useful Notes
It is essential to consider that the itinerary runs near and within a damp gorge. It is therefore not recommended to undertake it after periods of heavy rainfall, when the rock would be extremely slippery and the torrent could be in flood. For more experienced hikers, an interesting option is to do the via ferrata in reverse, then return to the starting point along the equipped trail; this variant presents slightly greater difficulty on the few vertical sections, requiring more attention when descending on the ropes.
The Province of Biella provides maps and GPS tracks of the area's trails on its website, a very useful resource for planning. Near Sordevolo, fans of via ferratas can find other routes of moderate difficulty, such as the Ferrata Nito Staich, the Ferrata di Rosazza, the Ferrata Ciao Miki, the Ferrata del Limbo, and the Ferrata della Balma, located in the Oropa and San Paolo Cervo areas.
